March 25, 2010

The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 118

www.dukechronicle.com

Masthead loss impairs Technician

NCSU’s student daily faces uncertain outlook by Taylor Doherty THE CHRONICLE

If North Carolina State University’s student newspaper, The Technician, can’t find a way to deal with recent staffing troubles, it may cease to be the campus’ watchdog. A lack of student involvement as well as internal disputes at the daily newspaper, which was founded in 1920, have put the publication’s future in jeopardy. The Technician is currently without both an editor-in-chief and a managing editor and has been unable to find an editor for the upcoming academic year. “After losing its editor earlier this semester in a policy dispute, the institution has been essentially leaderless,” a March 10 Technician editorial said. “Today’s paper was only in the stand because of what the staff would describe as a printing miracle.” Bradley Wilson, coordinator for student media advising and The Technician’s moderator, accounted for part of the lack of student participation by calling this year a rebuilding year. The struggles have forced the members of the newspaper to See technician on page 6

larsa al-omaishi/The Chronicle

The three Duke Student Government presidential candidates—juniors Will Passo (left), Gregory Morrison (center) and Mike Lefevre (right)—face off in the preelection debate in the Great Hall Wednesday night. The candidates outlined their individual platforms and took questions from the 50 students in attendance.

Rivals state their cases in debate by Sonia Havele THE CHRONICLE

Students were given some food for thought Wednesday night when the three candidates for Duke Student Government president faced off in a pre-election debate in the Great Hall. DSG Chief of Staff Mike Lefevre, DSG Executive Vice President Gregory Morisson and DSG Vice President for Durham and Regional Affairs Will Passo, all juniors, shared their views and platforms

with a crowd of about 50 students. In addition, nearly 70 viewers tuned in to The Chronicle’s online live-streaming of the debate. The event, hosted by The Chronicle and DSG, was moderated by senior Michael Blake, chair of The Chronicle’s editorial board. The debate began with opening statements from the candidates, followed by group questions, individual questions and finally closing statements. The candidates agreed on general

Skloot connects race, bioethics by Stephen Farver THE CHRONICLE

Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951. During the course of her treatment, a tissue sample was taken from her cancerous tumor without her consent. In the 60 years after her death, her cells—unbeknownst to Lacks or her family—have been used to assist the development of the polio vaccine as well as drugs for other diseases. On Wednesday evening, science writer Rebecca Skloot spoke to a packed audience of mostly adults and professionals in the Fleishman Commons in the Sanford School of Public Policy about her most recent New York Times best-seller, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” Skloot told of how Lacks—a poor black tobacco farmer living in the Jim Crow South—unwittingly contributed the first immortal cells to scientific research. Immortal cells are those that can be frozen and replicated indefinitely and shared among the scientific community for research. Named HeLa cells after Henrietta Lacks, the novel tissue samples quickly became highly commercialized. “There’s no way of knowing exactly how many of Henrietta’s cells are alive today,” Skloots said, reading from her book. “One scientist estimates that if you could pile all the HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—the equivatyler seuc/The Chronicle lent of at least 100 Empire State Buildings.” Speaking at the Sanford School of Public Policy Wednesday, Although these genes have created a multimillion dollar industry science writer Rebecca Skloot discusses the contribution of the first immortalized cell line, HeLa, to modern medicine. See skloot on page 5

ONTHERECORD

“Alcohol is a type of social lubricant.... This is the most efficient use of resources to bring the most enjoyment.”

­—SOFC Chair David Hu on DSG’s Bartender and Alcohol Subsidy Fund. See story page 3

concerns such as continuing to improve student influence on administrative decisions, but each candidate had a distinct platform and specific goals. Morrison, who emphasized his 5-year plan for DSG, stressed the importance of having a leader concerned with the future of the University. He noted that in achieving long-term change, the quality of representation that students have matters deeply. See debate on page 4

DSG EVP CANDIDATEs

Three vie for EVP position by Shaoli Chaudhuri THE CHRONICLE

The three candidates competing to be Duke Student Government executive vice president all agree on one issue—student relations with DSG need improvement. Sophomores Price Davidson, Jane Moore and Pete Schork hope to implement policies to make operations more transparent and facilitate student partnership. All three candidates have served on DSG’s athletics and campus services committee for the past two years. Schork is currently vice president for athletics and campus services. The winner of the election will be responsible for presiding over DSG’s weekly Senate meetings and directing all legislation. Davidson, who is also DSG’s president pro-tempore, is committed to improving relations with students by soliciting their input. He also hopes to unify the Senate in

Women’s Tennis: Victory! Blue Devils upset No. 2 Northwestern for second straight season, PAGE 7

See Evp on page 5

The famed play Closer gets a Duke rendition, RECESS 3

2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 the chronicle

worldandnation

TODAY:

7447

FRIDAY:

6356

Russia, US reach agreement on nuclear arsenals accord

CIA videotape investigation U. League draws attention unearths false statements When the National Urban League opened its doors 100 years ago, African Americans were leaving the sharecropping South for big Northern cities. They migrated in droves, and the group — which then called itself the Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes — was founded to help the newcomers improve their work lives and squalid housing. A century later, the league remains focused on housing and jobs. The issues today stem from the disproportionate rate of foreclosure and unemployment that African Americans face in this economic downturn. On Wednesday, the group’s leader, Marc Morial, released the league’s “State of Black America” report, a compilation of data that has told the halting tale of black economic advancement. The league was founded in 1910 to foster black economic equality, but progress has been slow, Morial said.

“

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An investigation into the destruction of CIA videotapes that depicted harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects appears to be nearing a close, ending a long inquiry in which authorities have encountered a series of roadblocks in building a case. Prosecutors are now examining the sworn testimony of an agency official to assess whether charges against false statements can be made, according to two sources familiar with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham, who is leading the investigation, recently bestowed immunity from prosecution on a CIA lawyer who reviewed the tapes years before they were destroyed to determine whether they diverged from written records about the interrogations, the sources said. That could signal that the case is reaching its final stages.

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A COurSe FOr everyOne

”

TODAY IN HISTORY 1807: British Parliament abolishes slave trade

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MOSCOW, Russia — U.S. and Russian negotiators have reached agreement on all elements of a treaty to slash the nuclear arsenals of both nations, a Kremlin official said. He added that an accord may be signed as soon as next month in Prague. Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev likely would meet in the Czech capital for the signing, though the time and place haven’t been made final, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with Kremlin policy. Obama’s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said “there are still some things that need to be worked out” before a deal on a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is sealed. Obama and Medvedev still need to speak again, a conversation that likely will take place in the next few days, he said.

The United States and Russia have been negotiating the terms of an accord to meet calls by Medvedev and Obama for a reduction of their nuclear arsenals to between 1,500 and 1,675 deployed warheads and between 500 and 1,100 delivery systems. Under START, which expired in December, each side is permitted a maximum of 2,200 warheads and 1,600 launch vehicles. Medvedev and Obama have made signing a new nuclear arms accord a priority as they try to repair ties that sank to a post-Cold War low under Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush. “This is a major diplomatic and domestic political breakthrough for the president at a critical time,” said Stephen Flanagan, vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington post

Army Specialist Zachari Klawonn, a Muslim soldier, sits in front of a Moroccan flag in his new barracks at Fort Hood, Texas. Zachari, the son of an American father and a Moroccan mother, was recently moved off base as a safety precaution. Zachari faces constant threats and words of hatred, a situation common to a Muslim soldier, and one that has only worsened exponentially since the Hasan shootings last November.

the chronicle

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 | 3

Duke student government

MythBusters’ DSG rejects reviving keg fund Adam Savage speech nixed by Aziza Sullivan THE CHRONICLE

Alcohol was the main topic of discussion at the Duke Student Government meeting Wednesday night. DSG discussed and voted down a proposal to revive its Bartender and Alcohol Subsidy Fund. Student groups would have applied to the proposed fund to have up to two kegs of beer paid for by DSG for specific events, pending approval by the Student Organization Finance Committee. “Alcohol is a type of social lubricant to bring diverse groups of people together,” said SOFC Chair David Hu, a junior. “This subsidy fund will enhance programming on campus…. This is the most efficient use of resources to bring the most enjoyment.” The fund would have consisted of $10,000 taken from SOFC’s surplus, which is currently $41,000, Hu said. After a half-hour debate, a close majority of DSG senators voted against the fund. Junior Ben Condon, the newly-appointed chief financial officer of Duke University Union, attended the meeting to support the subsidy. “We want to pass this resolution because alcohol can be a medium for social groups of students,” he said. “If we add this, it’s going to add value to Duke’s social and student life, and that’s what DUU is all about.” Senators amended the resolution to require the involvement of at least two student groups per event and the serving of non-alcoholic beverages at each event. Many senators objected to using DSG’s See DSG on page 5

larsa al-omaishi/The Chronicle

Junior David Hu, Student Organization Finance Committee Chair, proposes the revival of the Bartender and Alcohol Subsidy Fund at DSG’s meeting Wednesday night. Senators rejected the notion after a half-hour debate.

An April 7 speech by “MythBusters” cohost Adam Savage has been canceled due to a scheduling error. The agency that Duke University Union was working with to bring Savage accidentally booked him for another appearance at the same time as the Duke one, said DUU Major Speakers Director Yi Zhang, a junior. “We were disappointed,” Zhang said. “I mean, a lot of people were really interested in this event.” Zhang said she does not know what other event the agency, Burns Entertainment and Sports Marketing, scheduled Savage for. She added that she does not know how the error occurred. MythBusters is a television show that examines science-related myths and misconceptions in a humorous and often explosion-laden format. During the event, Savage would have shown behind-the-scenes videos from MythBusters and talked about his job, Zhang said in March. Tickets had not yet been sold for the speech, which was to be held April 7 at 8 p.m. in Griffith Theater. The money that DUU spent to bring Savage to Duke has been refunded, Zhang said, adding that the organization is looking to bring a replacement speaker to Duke before the end of the year. —from staff reports

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4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 the chronicle

debate from page 1 “Any DSG president that does his job without long-term goals in mind is not doing his job,” Morrison said. “I’m going to know where I’m going to go, and I’m going to start walking.” Morrison also addressed his plan to draft a 10-year review of Curriculum 2000 and his intent to eliminate Duke Dining Service’s budget deficit through a strategic plan for Dining. Passo was primarily concerned with bridging the gap between the old Duke and his vision of a new Duke. In achieving this goal, he focused on the importance of viewing DSG as a lobbying organization rather than as a programming body or an aid to the administration. He noted that his plan, characterized by a focus on campus culture issues like lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, racial and minority concerns, would be carried out through long-term advocacy coupled with short term changes. “I can take big issues and pinpoint specific things that I can accomplish tangibly,” Passo said. He added that he was the only candidate who emphasized Central Campus, which houses many independent and minority students. Lefevre introduced his platform by expressing his desire to change the way students view DSG and the way DSG views itself. He commended students for their active voices this year on issues such

larsa al-omaishi/The Chronicle

Junior Will Passo (left) presents his platform for Duke Student Government president as the other two candidates, juniors Gregory Morrison (center) and Mike Lefevre (right) look on. The debate, held in the Great Hall Wednesday night, was attended by about 50 students. as the merger of the International House and Multicultural Center, adding that the administration should let the student body address such concerns. Lefevre also emphasized that he has more experience than the other candidates, having served for 3 years on DSG and 2 years on

its executive board. “A platform is just a piece of paper,” Lefevre said, stressing the role experience should play in considering which candidate will be able to follow through on their ideas. “I have that experience.” Other concerns brought up during the debate included the

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF DEAN OF DUKE CHAPEL Regular reviews of senior administrators of the University are conducted by a committee that completes a performance review and submits a confidential report to the President. Such a committee has been appointed by President Brodhead to review the Dean of Duke Chapel, Sam Wells who has served in his post since 2005. Gus Grant, Vice Dean for Faculty Enrichment with the Medical Center, will serve as committee chair. Other members of the committee include: Dan Kiehart (Biology Dept.), Donna Lisker (Undergraduate Education), Dorothy Powell (Global & Community Health Initiatives), Warren Smith (Divinity), Sterly Wilder (Alumni Affairs), Jim Wisner (The Congregation at Duke Chapel), and Lawrence McCleskey (Trustee).

An important part of the review process is the gathering of input from the University’s many constituencies. Comments on performance and suggestions for the future are important to the committee’s work. The committee invites you to share your thoughts by email or letter, or communicate orally to any committee member. Communication should include the nature of your interactions with Dr. Wells in order to understand the context of your comments as fully as possible. The committee will discuss responses and a summary will be included in the written report to the President. All communications will be kept in confidence by the committee.

reform of the Young Trustee selection process, which all three candidates agreed could improve in the future. Freshman Gautam Joseph attended the debate and said he enjoyed it. However, he felt that he could have learned more if the audience had been more engaged

in the debate. “I thought it was pretty impressing,” Joseph said. “But it was largely a presentation of the platforms they were already running on as opposed to the audience testing them on particular points or policies they were trying to implement.”

ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR

Sports fans,

join us for MARCH MADNESS-watch as many games as you’d like on our widescreen TVs! Don’t forget to try our sweet potato fries and calamari!

The Committee would appreciate receiving your thoughts by April 12. Thank you in advance for your participation in this important process. Gus Grant, MD, Chair Wells Review Committee Box 90030 Durham, North Carolina 27708 admin-review@duke.edu

GO BLUE DEVILS!

the chronicle

DSG from page 3 money to supply alcohol to student organizations, instead of supporting student financial aid or charitable causes. Some senators said they were concerned that the same groups would apply for the fund repeatedly. Other senators said part of the fund should be used to purchase non-alcoholic beverages for students who don’t drink alcohol.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 | 5

In other business: DSG members discussed the new satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading policy, which replaced pass/fail and was approved by the Arts & Sciences Council in early March. Under the new policy the required passing grade was changed from a D-minus to a C-minus. Neither satisfactory nor unsatisfactory grades are calculated in a student’s GPA. Furthermore, students who have not yet declared a major are allowed to take courses on a satisfactory/unsat-

isfactory basis. The creation of a committee to plan a Greek financial aid fund was also approved. The committee will figure out how to raise money and create an endowment to help students involved in Greek life pay their dues. The committee will begin its work this semester and will continue during the next academic year. Associate Justices Saher Valiani and Gautam Joseph, both freshmen, and David Wang, a sophomore, were confirmed at the meeting.

michael naclerio/The Chronicle

The three candidates for DSG executive vice president—sophomores Price Davidson (left), Jane Moore (center) and Pete Schork (right)—all hope to improve student relations and increase transparency of DSG.

evp from page 1 order to increase legislative efficiency. “I’m really going to reach out to see what [the students] want to do with DSG, and what DSG can do for them,” he said. Davidson, a biology and Spanish double major, also hopes to make Duke a “green” campus by promoting environmental initiatives. As a DSG senator, he worked to implement more energy efficient lighting in campus buildings. “I have the ability to pull from Duke’s various departments and [help them] work as a unit and find methods to improve campus life and to build upon Duke’s most important initiatives,” he said. Moore said she brings a fresh perspective to the execu-

skloot from page 1 and benefited the careers of the white doctors who took and replicated the sample, the descendents of Henrietta Lacks do not have access to health care and continue to fight poverty, Skloot noted. They have not benefited at all from Lacks’ contribution to medical research and cannot afford the drugs that their mother helped create, Skloot said. Skloot went on to describe the history of HeLa cells as one that raises poignant issues concerning embedded racism in the 1950s South as well as one about medical ethics. “Henrietta—whose legacy involves the birth of bioethics and the grim history of experimentation on AfricanAmericans—is all but forgotten,” Skloot said. The harvest of Lacks’ cells more than half a century ago continues to have repercussions today. One of Lacks’ daughters, Deborah, is mentally disabled and has difficulty understanding how her mother is “still alive.” “[She] believed that her mother was brought back by an angel ... to help people,” Skloot said. Ken Fujiwara, a research technician for the Center for Applied Genomics and Technology, said he thought the speech was “eye opening.” “Coming from the community that does research on these cells, I think [where the cells came from] is quite important to know,” Fujiwara said. Skloot doesn’t see a future in which individuals, like Lacks, are rewarded for their medical contributions, but is nevertheless disappointed by the current situation. Right now, the health care industry benefits at the expense of individuals who contributed to discoveries but are unable to partake in the benefits because they lack health care coverage, she noted. Skloot said in an ideal world everyone should be able to partake in the benefits of medical advances.

tive vice president position. She plans to reach out to students by encouraging senators to hold extended “office hours” in popular locations like bus stops and campus eateries. In the future, she said she would like to see DSG become the “face of the student body.” “Right now, there’s a disconnect between them. [DSG is] not really a part of their lives,” she said. “I want to help foster better communication and get tangible results.” Moore, a political science major, added that she plans to increase communication between students and Dining employees by hosting open forums. “Worker-student relations—it’s not a good situation to me,” Moore said. “[Improvement] is going to have to start from above in DSG.” Schork said his role as vice president for athletics and campus services has effectively prepared him for the executive vice president position. The public policy

studies major noted that his volunteer experience last summer with the Service Opportunities in Leadership program, doing environmental organizing in Chicago, made him a better listener—something he feels is vital to the position. Although Schork thinks DSG has done an adequate job of representing students interests, he said he sees room for improvement. If elected, Schork said he plans to increase Senate productivity and create an executive council with representatives from multiple student groups. “Really what I’m looking at is, how can DSG elevate its influence?” Schork said. “How can it become a more impactful organization? How can it really start to deal with the weighty issues that you’ve seen in this paper over the last year?” Elections for DSG president and executive vice president will take place March 30.

6 | THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 the chronicle

technician from page 1 reconsider the organization’s structure and whether the demands of the editor-in-chief position are reasonable. But a number of the newspaper’s staff said the problems run deeper. According to several staff members, a problematic relationship between student leaders and Wilson has reinforced the paper’s problems. In January, The Technician’s editor-inchief, senior Ty Johnson, was suspended from his position for the remainder of his one-year term for failing to meet the 2.5 GPA required by the University for students in leadership positions. The eventual decision to suspend Johnson—though not a decision made solely by Wilson—was the culmination of what Viewpoint Editor Russell Witham, a senior, described as a series of “significant quarrels.” Wilson acknowledged that he had disagreements with Johnson but declined to comment on the specifics of their relationship. Johnson could not reached for comment after several attempts this week. “I’m not going to say the advisor would have had it out for him, but it definitely wasn’t a situation where he was sad to see him leave,” Witham said. “The two of them frequently quibbled, I’d almost say like children a lot of the time. Honestly, they would get in shouting matches.... It was a significant string of problems, starting with payroll issues, going to content management, dealing with corrections and culminating in this.” Former Technician editor-in-chief, Tyler Dukes, N.C State ’08, noted that Wilson can be “challenging to work with” but is a valuable resource for the staff. One of Wilson’s responsibilities is to challenge the editor,

and this structure sometimes lends itself to conflict, he noted. “But Bradley is an immensely valuable resource for student media,” Dukes said. “He knows journalism well, he knows teaching journalism well and he has a huge list of contacts that kind of help the paper and student media as a whole.” The Technician lost its managing editor, senior Ana Andruzzi, within two weeks of Johnson’s suspension, when she suddenly left for an internship. Sports editor Kate Shefte, a junior, called the loss of senior leadership at the paper the “last straw” in a series of recent issues for the publication. In the top editors’ absence, Shefte, Witham and Design Editor Lauren Blakely, a junior, have led the paper as an executive committee, and younger staff members have been promoted much more quickly than in the past. Witham estimated that to have an effective newspaper, The Technician needs approximately 30 active staff members who contribute beyond writing one piece a week. Currently, there are between 10 and 15 students in the office on a given night contributing to the overall production effort, he said. The Technician’s woes cannot simply be explained by the general financial problems of the newspaper industry, Wilson said. Its issues are more directly related to a lack of student involvement than to budget problems. The monetary constraints that the paper faces are more related to the financial downturn than to long-term financial weakness, Wilson added. Dukes noted that this misconception has been the dominant narrative explaining the paper’s troubles in the media. He said there is still a place for a student newspaper on the campus. In the past, The Technician’s ranks have been filled by students studying everything

special to The Chronicle

The Technician, North Carolina State University’s student daily newspaper, lost its editor-in-chief and managing editor over a span of two weeks earlier this year. Students are looking to rebuild the group’s leadership next year. from the humanities to engineering, agricultural studies and physics—not just students hoping to pursue journalism after school, he said. There is a certain prestige to having a daily newspaper, Witham said, but solutions

such as having a paper that is not published every day are currently being considered. The N.C. State Student Media Board of Directors is currently considering changing both the position of editor-in-chief and how the paper operates.

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Recess

volume 12 issue 24 march 25, 2010

2.0

DISPLACED The Nasher brings four contemporary Chinese artists to the museum

PAGE 3

christina pena/The chronicle

closer

Patrick Marber’s ultra sexy play comes to Duke

page 3

real estate

the Jersey surf rockers visit the Coffeehouse Sunday

page 4&5

@JUSTInBieber

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page 5

recess

theSANDBOX. Tiger Woods has done a lot of apologizing recently. First he had a press conference and basically said, “Sorry, everybody, I shouldn’t have had sex with all those porn stars.” Then he gave a five-minute interview about his sex addiction and the long road to recovery. He talked about inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment (wonder if this is analogous to intercourse and outercourse) and getting back to his Buddhist roots, which presumably does not involve graphic sexting. People seem to be truly affected by Tiger Woods’ infidelity and angry with him for cheating on his wife. But wait a minute, y’all. Tiger was addicted to sex. He absolutely had to have it; he couldn’t live without it. Do you expect alcoholics to apologize every time they pour themselves a drink? No—if they didn’t, they’d start shaking and vomiting and behaving in all sorts of socially unacceptable ways. You think those people who get addicted to meth are happy about the open sores all over their face? Tiger killed

[recesseditors]

two bottles of Vicodin on the same day his wife beat his face in with a nine-iron, but you didn’t hear Skip Bayless having an aneurysm over his addiction to painkillers. I feel like this is because many Americans aren’t ready to accept sex as a legitimate addiction. The space next to this is certainly a little more enlightened, but I know doubters exist. “There’s no physiological necessity for sex on a regular basis,” they might say, using my own personal experience as a healthy, somewhat functional human being as evidence. “Claiming to be an addict is just another way to avoid accountability.” These people, aside from being total d—s, are either hypocritical or just jealous. Accountability isn’t good for anyone. You want to be the guy who calls Tiger’s sex addiction a farce? Fine—I’ll be the guy who doubts whatever story you tell when you make more money than God and want to reward yourself with an implanted stripper or 12. —Ross Green

Duke’s worst mistakes Andrew Hibbard.....................................................releasing the greatest prof ever Eugene Wang.................................................................hopefully it won’t be friday Charlie McSpadden......................................voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir Kevin Lincoln......................................................................................zooey for ldoc Claire Finch...............................................................................................distinction John Wall..........................................................................................the music major Maddie Lieberberg..........................................................................no slow dancing Will Robinson........................................................................................legacy admits

March 25, 2010

[DUKE HORIZONTAL]

Page 2

All is fair in love and war until you’re lip-locked with two foreign strangers on a Mexican public bus. This realization was never more apparent then when my dear friend Lizzie convinced two Austrian men to make out with her in rapid succession on an infamous spring break trip. In Duke’s society of neurotic Type A personalities and aggressive perfectionists, it is hardly surprising that a competitive perspective would spill into the arena of physical leisure. If you’re not winning, you’re losing. According to the rules of our hook-up constitution, winners make out, losers strike out. Sexual success is a binary. According to this logic, more hook-ups are better than no hook-ups, and sluttiness becomes a goal worth pursuing. From this mindset, the Madrid competition was born. The rules were established in advance. This was purely a numbers game. Fringe benefits and external values such as physical attractiveness of the partner, emotional interest between the two parties and level of romantic skill were deemed worthless. The hook-up contest represented an attempt by two of my pickiest and least promiscuous friends to improve their personal totals, motivated by the spirit of competition. Notably, the need for accumulating experiences with the opposite gender stemmed less from gaining prowess or pleasure and more from a desire to combat social awkwardness. There seemed to be no doubt that the full abroad experience could not be realized without the tongues of nameless Spaniards. After mixed results in Europe, the contest continued on American soil, also making a quick trip across the border to bask in the

spring break revelry of Cancun. In this setting, public transportation and lag times between hook-ups became irrelevant hurdles. We probably don’t like to frame our pursuit of the opposite gender in competitive terms that define promiscuity as victory. We are, however, often quick to use “prudishness” interchangeably with social awkwardness. If you’re not willing to partake in a little harmless physical activity, you’re often stuck on the sidelines of the larger social tournament. I mean, excluding those with a sense of moral superiority, the solo cab ride from Shooters can be more disheartening than any walk of shame. A whole weekend can feel meaningless. For both genders, gaining a reputation for physical inactivity can be as defaming as any lewd behavior. Still, at the risk of offending anyone who has ever called themselves a feminist, there are some worthwhile benefits for those that support licentious activity and putting “sluttiness” on a pedestal. The risks of frequent dance floor make outs and similar interactions are relatively low if all participants play by the rules. Moreover, there is an inexorable confidence boost that comes from snaring in a partner and disposing of him within a matter of minutes. Also, by rendering these experiences as meaningless as a mental tally, an individual is inherently less linked to their sexual background. For all the constant dialogue surrounding the frivolity of the hook-up culture, there is something to be said for simply lowering the bar instead of raising the stakes. Kissing Austrian men on Mexican buses doesn’t really fit the sterilized image of an appropriate social activity. But then again, we have quite a different version of fun and games. Brooke Hartley is a Trinity junior. Her column runs every other Thursday.

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Thursday, March 25 • 8 pm | Page limited availability

antares quartet Friday & Saturday, March 26 & 27 • 8 pm | Nelson ciompi quartet

lunchtime classics: BartÓk

Tuesday, March 30 • 12 pm - 1 pm | Rare Book Room

kronos quartet

Feat. the World premiere oF a neW quartet by maria schneider

Saturday, April 10 • 8 pm | Page

kronos quartet · 4/10

for tickets & info 919-684-4444 dukeperformances.org

rosanne cash + mark o’connor poets & prophets

Thursday, April 15 • 8 pm | Page

academy oF st. martin in the Fields

With julian rachlin, violin

Friday, April 16 • 8 pm | Page

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March 25, 2010

Page 3

Chinese art strikes chord at Nasher

theater review

Emotions run awry in ‘Closer’ by Lori Vogt THE CHRONICLE

christina pena/The Chronicle

Displacement brings four contemporary Chinese artists to the Nasher. Their works, all in different medias, all respond to issues concerning the Three Gorges Dam. by Brian Contratto THE CHRONICLE

The Three Gorges Dam is an epic feat of modern construction, a gargantuan dam made of millions of tons of concrete that spans China’s Yangtze River. Its recent completion displaced more than one million riverside residents—forcing them to move under the threat of flooding—and submerging a wealth of cultural history. This historic project provides the thematic and emotive inspiration for Displacement: The Three Gorges Dam and Contemporary Chinese Art, opening today at the Nasher Museum of Art. The scope of the work on display is humble compared to its content: just four artists—Liu Xiaodong, Yun-fei Ji, Zhuang Hui and Chen Qiulin—are represented here. Xiaodong’s work, “Hotbed,” is the most Ailey Ad-DTH-Duke:Layout 1 3/22/10 8:49 AM Page 1 immediately impressive, a larger-than-life five-panel oil painting depicting actual dam laborers congregating on a rooftop; the river-and-mountain backdrop is painted differently in each panel, and the canvasses don’t quite align, perhaps suggesting the languorous passage of time it took for the workers to complete their opus. Ji’s contribution, “Water Rising,” is a

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

large ink scroll completed in traditional Chinese style—here, the folkloric retrograde of the piece, though somber, adds a sense of dignity and idealism to Displacement. In Ji’s landscape, local people flee from rising water, but there is no hint of the colossal manmade impetus behind the movement. “Longitude 109.88°E” and “Latitude 31.09°N” are both the titles and coordinates of the location where Hui photographed a series of holes he had dug in the riverbed that is now submerged by the Yangtze. The multimedia project includes video accompaniment, and together conveys an even heavier, palpable sense of longing than the other works. The holes become immediate artifacts in the evolving landscape, and even if this purpose is ultimately apparent, the photographs confound the viewer more than the other exhibited pieces—for this reason it invites greater study and introspection and is the most moving representation in Displacement. Still, the most dramatic offerings are renowned Chinese performance artist Qiulin’s video instillations: two concise, engaging documentary-cum-performance pieces. “River, River” intersperses sequences of tra-

MARCH 2010

ditional Chinese theater with rustic scenes of town and city surrounding the dam; two Chinese stage actors are shown frolicking in an industrial shipping yard, ironically embracing their new stage with aplomb. Better yet is “Colour Line,” an eerie piece capturing young children doing their best to bring color into the monochromatic palette of a decrepit building development. The video does much to capture the symbolism of valuing colorless manmade creations over a rich and vibrant Chinese heritage. Though both are man-made constructs, Qiulin contrasts the longevity of art and culture to crumbling edifices—even this dam will eventually come to ruins, it says. Displacement is a highly narrative exhibition that combines past and present in a dignified way, without excessive moralizing. It is accessible despite the modern pedigree of its representative artists and partially due to its small scale, which is overcome by the magnitude of its grace. Displacement opens today at the Nasher Museum of Art with a curator conversation at 7 p.m. The exhbition will be on display through July 25.

The sparse set of senior Danya Taymor’s production of Patrick Marber’s play Closer is filled by the unstable emotions of four fiercely enacted characters. In a hospital waiting room suggested by merely a doctor and a bench, Dan (Jamie Kaye-Phillips) banters sexily with Alice (Alexandra Young) after witnessing her serendipitous accident. Dan is a dangerously charming failed novelist with the all too recognizable combination of inflated selfimportance and thinly veiled self-loathing. But that’s revealed slowly. This, as Dan puts it, is the moment of their lives. His charm is ignited by a sassy, controlwielding minx so magnetic that even the doctor (Vinny Rey), initially too busy to see her, does a convincing double take as he stalks by in his white coat. In a loaded moment, the sexual tension between Alice and Dan spills over uncomfortably to include the doctor as he kneels in front of her and studies her injured leg. If a similar instance existed in the 2004 movie, it was unmemorable. In Taymor’s version, it’s a unique moment of peculiar lucidity, a moment to pause and observe the inappropriate sexual tension as it escapes containment. It will run rampant through the rest of the play, engulfing not only the doctor but another woman, Chelsea Laverack’s Anna, in a head-spinning plot of twisted merry-go-round love, fast-paced repartee and insults and emotions thrown like darts. The doctor’s character, written as a likable dupe of a good guy, is saved by Rey’s contemporary and authentic personality and his sense of humor, much needed in this grim affair. As the four characters bait-and-switch one another’s partners, the viewer hopes Anna—first depicted as a collected, mature See closer on page 6

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March 25, 2010

special to The Chronicle

Real Estate talks suburbia, soft roc New Jersey indie poppers Real Estate’s eponymous debut was the sunset on the wave-washed musical summer of 2009. In anticipation of their Sunday show with Woods at the Duke Coffeehouse, Jake Stanley spoke with frontman Martin Courtney about the Garden State, lo-fi labels and Fleetwood Mac fantasies. What did venturing out to Washington state for college—and then returning to suburban New Jersey—do for your music? After being away for so long, you get this sense of being independent when you’re at college, then it all comes crashing down when you move home. That was mostly the influence on some of the songs. The reason we started the band in the first place was because we didn’t know what else we were going to do. How did Real Estate come together? We had all played in bands together before Real Estate, and had known each other since eighth or ninth grade, so over ten years now. Me, [Alex] Bleeker and Matt [Mondanile] went to college in different places, then we all moved back to the

same town. I had some songs, so we started a band. We had played together many times before so it wasn’t really a weird thing to do. On the record, you sound at once tired of suburban life and at home in it. What does suburbia mean to you? It’s where I grew up, where all my memories are. The music is slightly nostalgic. The hardest part for me is writing the lyrics, to come up with words that fit the feel of the music, and for some reason I wrote a lot about where we grew up, because that’s what I was at the time. A lot of those songs were written right after college, right after we moved back. Also, it was just, like, I don’t know what else I’d write about. It’s all there is. Your lyrics have a lot of great scenery in them, such as the chorus of “Fake Blues” and the one-liner in “Suburban Beverage”— “Budweiser Sprite, do you feel alright?” Are any of those scenes born of particular experi-

ences you had? The Budweiser Sprite thing not so Budweiser Sprite is this guy who lives land, he’s a noise musician. We were that song one day and Matt was like “B er Sprite, do you feel alright?” It wa and it just stuck. And the “Fake Blue are the only lyrics that are sort of in tive, I guess. It’s sort of about not really any problems to write a song about. Y to write an angsty song but can’t real of anything that’s that bad. The LP came out in the midst of t mer glo-fi/chillwave explosion, whi have dragged Real Estate in at some p We always make fun of chillwave, w it’s really funny. I don’t think that re plies to us. I don’t know really what posed to mean. We get a lot of labels, At first it was kind of upsetting or offreading stuff about us. But I realized th See real estate on

SUNDAY

M

Music departm by Ryan Brown THE CHRONICLE

special to The Chronicle

Thom Limbert, third from right, is a member of pulsoptional. The composer/musician collective is performing a Limbert composition in Baldwin Auditorium Sunday.

For most graduate students, a doctoral thesis has a straightforward, if daunting, form—a few hundred thousand words set down in a Microsoft Word document. But for Thom Limbert, the parameters were a bit different—the composition student also had to create an original piece of music. The result is a 30-minute exploratory work that blends complex instrumentation and digitally processed sounds, a thematic investigation into the experience of time entitled “Timepiece.” The work will debut this Sunday in Baldwin Auditorium as part of the Music Department’s Encounters With the Music of Our Time concert series. “[Encounters] is a forum to present the

compellin Stephen J Professor of the dire time, it sh ing that’s For evi look no fu and perfo concert. I partment feature wo recipient fellow co rose, now compositi Conservat They w from Jan

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March 25, 2010

ck

Page 5

featured music reviews

she & him volume merge

2

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o much. in Portplaying Budweisas funny es” lyrics ntrospecy having You want lly think

She & Him’s debut, Volume 1, was one of the most surprisingly adorable—and not cloyingly so—releases of the previous decade. Composed oddly if perfectly of Matt Ward and Zooey Deschanel, the duo’s follow up, aptly titled Volume 2, is a fresh-baked concoction as good as the last. Volume 2 is much the same as its predecessor, featuring 13 short pop songs and two covers from years past. The album tones down the twang—nothing enters “I Should Have Known Better” territory here—while still basking in the A.M. radio glow of yore. Ward and Deschanel have produced more delightful pop confections, and Volume 2, to their credit, is more Gaston Lenotre than Little Debby. Though hardly virtuosic, Ward’s guitar drives the album. It is the cupcake base for the icing that is Deschanel’s breezy singing and flighty lyrics. The instruments bolster the pixie starlet’s voice, which is certainly able, albeit limited in range. She shines on the more upbeat tracks like lead single “In the Sun” and NRBQ cover “Ridin’ in My Car.” Ward adds guest vocals on the latter track, providing that extra something—the sprinkles, if you will. To be sure, the second outing from She & Him is insubstantial music, but it is, above all, enjoyable. To extend the baking metaphor farther than necessary, Volume 2 provides little nutrients, but it is a delightful treat and difficult to turn down. —Andrew Hibbard

the sumich may points. we think eally apit’s supthough. -putting, hat obvipage 6

AY

MUSIC

ment focuses on contemporary

ng voices of today’s music,” said Jaffe, Mary and James H. Semans of Music Composition and one ectors of the series. “At the same hows the breadth of music-makhappening right here at Duke.” idence of that breadth, one need urther than the other composers ormers who will join Limbert in In a veritable tour of music deofferings, the performance also orks by Chia-yu Hsu, a 2009 Ph.D in music composition, and her omposition graduate John Mayw a postdoctoral fellow of music ion at the Lawrence University tory of Music. will be joined by performances ne Hawkins, professor of the

practice of music, the musical ensemble pulsoptional and the Ciompi quartet, Duke’s string quartet in residence. Hsu explained that her piece “Among Gardens,” unlike Limbert’s piece, which meditates on a concept, was composed to evoke an image—that of the Duke Gardens throughout the course of a day. “Sometimes the sounds I use are the real sounds of the Gardens—the birds and the insects,” she said. “And sometimes the place is inspiration but the sounds come from my imagination.” The piece, originally commissioned in 2006, was debuted by pianist Natalie Zhu in the Philadelphia Chamber Society series. Since then “Gardens” has attracted national acclaim. For Hsu, such praise is nothing new.

With an education that spans from conservatories to the Ivy League, her compositions have won international awards and been performed in a dizzying array of venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Moscow Open Harp Festival. But Sunday she will play to a more intimate crowd, and she said she is excited for the opportunity to interact directly with the audience hearing her piece. “That’s the privilege of having a living composer,” she said. “I can talk to my audience and so they will know what’s going on in the music.” And what is going on in her second piece, “Journey to the West,” could use a bit of explanation. The piece, commisSee encounters on page 7

justin bieber my world island

eeEEE

2.0

Justin Bieber is a contradiction. Like Chris Brown and any number of precocious pop idols before him, Bieber is a child existing in pop music. But pop is a genre of love, sex, addiction and sorrow—topics on which the 16-year-old Canadian cannot be an expert, because he just hasn’t been there yet. This means the title of Bieber’s sophomore effort, My World 2.0, really is sophomoric. Hormones aren’t love, and backseat groping isn’t sex; that’s the maximum experience most of his listeners can claim. Yet here we are, a song called “Never Let You Go” with lyrics about “heaven,” “love too strong” and “finally.” The chorus plays like a stripped-down “Forever,” compensating with girlish Bieber multi-tracking for what it lacks in Polow da Don theatrics and Chris Brown’s charisma. Brown wasn’t exactly card-carrying AARP either, but he pulled it off thanks to peerless production and a cross-the-aisle charm. Other than lead single “Baby”—blessed with a verse by Ludacris and a beat from The-Dream, Tricky Stewart and Christina Milian— and Spank Rock collaborator Benny Blanco’s “Eenie Meenie,” My World 2.0 sags under some absolutely dreadful beatmaking. Bieber simply doesn’t have the voice to buoy it up, and Auto-Tune is ubiquitous—albeit the pitch-correcting version rather than the TWayne robot howl. The vocals are best when they’re most organic, as on the Usher-aping “Stuck in the Moment.” The National’s Matt Berninger once sang, “You know I’ve dreamed about you/for 29 years, before I saw you.” Bieber’s got half that, and he needs at least a few more birthdays before he might hope to carry a similar emotional weight. At this point, he should settle for anything genuine. —Kevin Lincoln

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closer from page 3

March 25, 2010

photographer in pumps at an art opening—will settle on the doctor, calming the characters’ wanderlust into love. That hope is lost during a particularly realistic fight scene between the doctor and Anna, in which their flirtatious controlled personas ride escalating momentum into anger. Still in her pumps, Anna, spittle-spewing and jaw-clenched, exposes a damaged underbelly to rival the injured neediness Alice displays in her own eventual breakdown. The gilded moments in which these characters fall in love are microcosms of the personalities they’ve crafted to captivate one another. Their constructions are brilliant but impossible to maintain and their relationships dull to worshipping memories as if they were idols, as they discard the dirty complexities of the people in front of them. Closer will run in Brody Theater March 25- 27 at 8 p.m. Admission is free.

real estate from page 4 ously it’s just a good thing to be getting press as long as people are listening to the music. When you think about musical hotbeds, New Jersey’s not exactly what comes to mind right away, but there are a lot of great bands. Where we grew up, it was cool because there were a lot of kids playing music, and a lot of people are still sticking with it. Real Estate is an example of that. We graduated high school with Cassie from the Vivian Girls, she was in our grade. I played for years in a band with Patrick Stickles from Titus Andronicus. We have so much experience playing in bands and writing songs in high school. I feel like we sort of had a head start. Then there’s Yo La Tengo, who’s just a big indie band that happens to be from New Jersey, and then Springsteen, who’s like the Godfather, watching over everybody. Springsteen’s on the level of huge superstars, and it’s just cool that he’s from Jersey. I read that you guys like playing house parties. What is that like, just playing in a random person’s house? It’s way better than playing in clubs. A lot of time the clubs aren’t all-ages, and obviously a house party is, so that’s chill. We were supposed to play a house party in Nashville, we were talking to kids about having one after the show we were playing. It’s started to get weird, though, because the promoters for the actual show gets pissed off because he thinks people aren’t going to come to the show they’re promoting if we play a house party. They put the nix on that show. But yeah, it’s really fun to do house parties, we like to do it whenever possible. Our first tour, which was this time last year, was all house parties. We booked that whole thing ourselves. The record sounds like a throwback to old-style pop music. When you’re recording, how do you know when a

indu ramesh/The Chronicle

Closer is an adaptation of the Patrick Marber play. Directed by Danya Taymor, the play is rife with emotional chaos and tension. song is complete? Some of the songs were written as they were recorded. Other times, the songs are totally realized before we record them. But we don’t really record in a studio; we’re recorded a lot of the record in our friend’s house, and some of it just on a four-track. That gives you a little bit more freedom, there’s no time constraint, which helped because it was recorded over the course of a year. You wouldn’t have the same kind of time to figure all that out in a studio. Yeah, literally time is money when you’re in the studio. I’d love to be able to record it a little better for the second record. The lo-fi thing is by necessity, I think it sounds cool but I would also like to record in a really nice analog studio or something. How would that benefit the songs? We have a collective dream in the band to sound like a soft-rock band like Steely Dan or Fleetwood Mac, like really good and professional. Would you be [Fleetwood Mac guitarist] Lindsey Buckingham? No, actually I think I’d be Stevie Nicks [laughs]. You’re about to go to Europe, and are playing smaller parties, in churches and concert halls. What do you anticipate that being like? We were in Europe in February, we played a lot of clubs like we play here. But we’re going to play the Primavera Festival [in Barcelona]. I think that’s going to be by far the biggest crowd we’ve played for. I’m pretty excited about that. I’ll let you go, but I wanted to let you know Duke is full of Jersey kids. Sick, that’s awesome. Real Estate and Woods will play at the Duke Coffeehouse March 28. Doors open at 8, and the show is at 9:30 p.m. The show is $10 and free for students.

B o o k yo u r Fa m i ly g r a d u at i o n c e l e B r at i o n n o w !

Duke They’re your dining points.

goldfrapp head first mute

eeeEE

Like a divine goddess of disco, Alison Goldfrapp descends on her cloud of airy synths to a crowd of adoring fans. She and Will Gregory—known as Goldfrapp—are back from a sojourn into a folksy sound, and they have jubilantly reentered the world of super-polished pop with Head First. From the album’s pastel, luminescent cover to the last track, Head First draws on influences from the glory days of disco. Opener “Rocket” pulses with liveliness and a syrupy sweetness. Goldfrapp makes use of light backing vocals and catchy hooks to draw in the listener. These techniques continue on “Believer,” where she employs a lush synth soundscape to create a world reminiscent of the 1980s. Goldfrapp has also salvaged her career as a dance artist with this newest batch of songs. “Alive” sounds like Mika on a space odyssey and is oddly infectious, while “Shiny and Warm” recalls past works like the infamous “White Horse.” Some songs do belly flop, however. Title track “Head First” is repetitive and dull. “Hunt” attempts for the mysterious, but the ambiguous lyrics and dark sound leave listeners looking over their shoulders. The duo ends Head First with “Voicething,” a four-minute piece that uses no lyrics, only wordless vocal sounds. Although the effort is valiant and at times engaging, it ultimately serves as an outro that goes on too long. The album is fun and playful, but at times Goldfrapp meanders without focus, resulting in music that bores rather than excites. Honestly, the first line of Head First explains the entire album: “Starting something/Thought it could be fun.” Maybe Goldfrapp was wrong. —Nathan Nye

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encounters from page 5

music,” he said. The band of composers has been in existence for just more than 10 years and has traveled and performed around the country. Mayrose, also a member of pulsoptional, will round out the concert with an excerpt from a solo guitar work entitled “Common Practice,” inspired by fingerstyle banjo techniques. To Jaffe, the works of Mayrose, Limbert and Hsu represent a phenomenal pool of compositional talent in the Duke student body, one he said he is excited to see displayed for the public this weekend. “I am very proud of what’s going on creatively at Duke right now,” he said. “It’s a fecund period for music here.”

sioned for the Ciompi Quartet, is an allegorical retelling of a Chinese story by the same name, which recounts the journey of an adventurous monk named Xuan Zang and his disciple, a monkey king. The Ciompi Quartet will play the first movement of the piece Sunday, with the full work debuting in May. Limbert’s “Timepiece,” on the other hand, will be performed by pulsoptional, a self-described “band of composers”— nearly all of them Duke music department graduates—who develop and play eclectic, genre-bending modern music. Limbert himself is a member of the group, which he said meshes well with his own musical style. “I like to incorporate elements of rock and pop in my quote unquote classical

how to train your dragon dir. c. sanders and d. deblois dreamworks

eeeeE

Movie reviewers aren’t perfect. We often enter the theater with prejudices and expectations just like everyone else. Who would want to see the animated kiddy movie with a title in the running for Hollywood Innuendo of the Year? An immature masochist like me, apparently. To my surprise, How To Train Your Dragon blew me away, plain and simple. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), the teenage son of a great Viking chief (Gerard Butler), wants to prove himself to be as burly and butch as his fellow Norsemen by killing dragons. Unfortunately, he’s the weakest, wimpiest whippersnapper since Screech from Saved By the Bell. Miraculously, he shoots down the rarest of all dragons but fails to summon the strength and kill it.

Hiccup instead befriends the beast—whom he names Toothless—and through his new wingman, he uncovers untruths about dragons and averts potential disaster between dragons and Vikings. Did I mention that he gets the girl too? The narrative follows a traditional formula and lacks the range of a film like Up or Wall-E. But though it suffers in terms of substance, it succeeds in sheer entertainment value. The fanciful flying scenes—which I can only imagine are even better in 3-D— and the climactic battle singe the screen like a Hungarian Horntail. The blossoming friendship between Hiccup and Toothless will surely instill in you wicked delight and a cheesy grin, especially if you’re a sucker for coming-of-age tales. Whether you’re a hardcore football player or a lovely little lass, this movie will find the scaly chink in your dragon armor and make you giggle with glee. —Brendan Szulik

“Timepiece” will premiere March 28 in Baldwin Auditorium at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

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March 25, 2010

sweetgrass

video game review

aliens vs. predator

sega/rebellion developments pc, playstation 3 and xbox 360

eeEEE

Aliens vs. Predator, the latest installment from sciencefiction’s most well-known hybrid franchise, looks to make up for two critically reviled films from the last decade. Though it aims to join the ranks of its celebrated gaming predecessors, AVP shares more in common with the series’ more recent cinematic duds. The game, a first-person shooter, proceeds through three separate campaigns for the Alien, Predator and Colonial Marine. Although none of the storylines run directly parallel, missions share levels and some plot points. Since the game allows the player to switch freely between species, it was not always clear to me whether I was experiencing an area before or after the last time I was there. The narrative wasn’t much help either—I understood the silent Marine protagonist’s motivation for escaping danger and finding other soldiers, but the Alien and Predator missions f e l t m o r e or less like random violence. Violence is one area where the game does hold its own—

Monologues written by Duke Women performed by Duke Women & directed by Duke Women

although none of the basic combat is too extreme, special finishing moves by the two titular characters (including an unsettling rape-like animation for the Alien “harvest”) push the limits, with a detached head and spine even becoming a tool for getting through security checkpoints. Where AVP truly falls short is gameplay. Of the three characters, the Marine’s controls are the least offensive (if uninspired), and some of the weapons are almost fun to use. The Predator’s purported ability to turn invisible, leap to any point and take down individual opponents is artificially restricted by limited range and a cloaking system that deactivates with any violent behavior. The Alien is by far the worst—though the promise of climbing on walls is alluring, rapid changes in perspective and orientation left me feeling out-of-control and slightly nauseated. For each of the characters, I found myself sprinting through areas simply to avoid having to engage in combat.

The rest of the game is passable— decent environments, blurry textures, repetitive music and sound effects—but the major flaws in the game’s mechanics prevent it from even being enjoyed as throwaway science fiction. By the time I had finally resigned myself to Aliens vs. Predator’s poor gameplay, the story was nearly over—and I can’t say that I was disappointed. —Jonathan Wall

East Duke Room 209 March 25th, 26th & 27th: 8pm March 28th: 2pm

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dir. lucien castaing-taylor a cinema guild

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Who knew sheep could be so fascinating? Beginning in late winter at a farm in Big Timber, Mon., Sweetgrass follows a set of cowboys who guide a few thousand sheep across the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains for summer pasture. Their 2001 trip, deemed “the last ride of the American cowboy” because of newly installed grazing permit laws, begins once the cowboys shear their bleating beasts, shaving off their wool like corn from the cob. The newly near-naked sheep shiver in the snow but are soon rounded up by their owners and a pack of Herding and Maremma sheepdogs. From there, the group traverses across the terrain, storming through the main streets of small Montana towns and cautiously tip-toeing (hooving?) down dangerous mountainsides. Visually, the film is astounding. The filmmakers, Harvard-employed Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash, bestow their baa-ing subjects with surprising levels of complexity by capturing them in an array of activities. Their personalities shift from quiet and cooperative to excruiciatingly loud and frantic. The film also offers astonishing insights into the handling of sheep. Watching a cowboy pull a lamb by the hoof out of its mother’s belly leaves one open-mouthed; the newborn’s first steps, interactions with its mother and acceptance into the sheep community are equally affecting. The time spent with the cowboys, the two unoffocial heroes of the film, achieves a sense of realism by capturing the varying pace of their lifestyle. This can be long, aggravating work, comicly expressed in one of the cowboy’s two-minute expletive-ridden rants as he futilely guides the herd up a mountain. This contrasts with the quieter, extended moments of their plentiful downtime, which though insightful do eventually bore the viewer. Gorgeous wide shots of the sheep up against the Montana mountains remind the viewer of the beauty and vastness of their surroundings. The chaos of sheep crossing a river seems more hectic than the subway at rush hour from up close, but it’s a mere speck on the countryside from afar. —Charlie McSpadden

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THURSDAY March 25, 2010

Only 550 students entered Wednesday’s lottery for 660 Final Four tickets, leaving the remainder of the tickets available for non-student fans

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Women’s tennis

Plotkin, Blue Devils wipe out No. 2 Wildcats by Harrison Comfort THE CHRONICLE

nate glencer/The Chronicle

Senior Liz Plotkin fell behind 3-0 to Northwestern’s Lauren Liu early in her match, but fought back to win 7-5, 6-4 Wednesday at Ambler Stadium.

Duke upset top-ranked Northwestern last year in a match that revitalized the Blue Devils’ season and gave them the belief that they could compete with any team in the country. With that newfound confidence, Duke went on to capture not only an ACC Championship, but the national title. So when the Wildcats (13-3) traveled to Durham for a rematch this year, they also brought the prospect of having a similar impact on Duke’s season. And luckily for the No. 5 Blue Devils (13-2), history repeated itself. The Blue Devils defeated No. 2 Northwestern 5-2 Wednesday in Ambler Stadium in an impressive victory against another higher-ranked opponent. Duke also beat then-No. 3 Notre Dame less than two weeks ago. Although the Blue Devils have demonstrated the ability to take down the nation’s best teams, they got a muchneeded reminder of that fact against the Wildcats. “I think that we needed again to prove to ourselves that we can compete with anyone in the country,” head coach Jamie Ashworth said. “For us to come out to win five singles matches pretty convincingly, all in straight sets, I think that should show our team that we can beat anyone in the country if we are willing to pay the price. They have to be willing to pay the price every single point, run down balls and if it takes a rally of 30 balls to win a point then we do that.” Duke did not come out strong against Northwestern, dropping two of its three doubles matches against the Wildcats. Although doubles has been one of the Blue Devils’ biggest weaknesses this season, they have compensated with exceptional play in singles. Yesterday was no exception.

Amanda Granson quickly won the first point for Duke, sweeping her singles match 6-1, 6-0. Monica Gorny and Reka Zsilinska finished soon after in similarly dominant fashion, each winning their singles matches in straight sets See w. tennis on page 8

nate glencer/the Chronicle

Ellah Nze lost Wednesday, but Duke won five of the six singles points to defeat the higher-ranked Wildcats, 5-2, for the second consecutive season.

Duke looks ahead and to past in Houston St. Mary’s may await in Elite Eight by Alexander Stuart THE CHRONICLE

For No. 10 seed St. Mary’s, last year was supposed to be its year to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. But now that the Gaels have made an unexpected, Cinderella-esque run to this year’s Sweet 16, they now have their sights set on the belle of the ball—Duke. “It’s one of those things we have in the back of our heads,” center Omar Samhan said. “If you’re not talking about it, you’re crazy. But we understand we have a big task ahead of us and we’re excited. We want to play Duke and that would be a lot of fun. You grow up hearing about Duke so hopefully we’ll get the chance to play them and hopefully kids around the world will grow up hearing about Saint Mary’s.” But indeed, no one expected this from St. Mary’s this season after their disappointing 2008-2009 campaign. Despite boasting an NBA prospect point guard, Patrick Mills, who had just come back from averaging 14.2 points a game in the 2008 Olympics for the Australian national team, a smooth 6-foot-7 combo forward in Diamon Simpson and the 6-foot-10 bully-in-themiddle Samhan, Lady Luck was not on St. Mary’s side last year. Mills broke his hand late in the season

and, without him, the Gaels sputtered to the finish, narrowly missing out on an at-large Tournament bid. Mills then declared for the NBA Draft and Simpson graduated, leaving the Gaels with numerous questions for the upcoming season. Those questions seemed to be answered during the preseason on the team’s tour of Australia and in preseason scrimmages. “It kind of gradually happened, but we saw early in the year this team was really coachable, really shared the ball, and can really shoot, and we had a good low-post player,” head coach Randy Bennett said. “These guys have exceeded my expectations. Sometimes the pieces just fit together just right and that’s what this team kind of is, the balance between the inside and outside.” Samhan has received the bulk of the attention from opposing teams all year, and he has responded incredibly with an average of 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. “We knew starting the year that Omar was a different player,” Bennett said. “This guy is really good. [Opposing teams] are going to have to have a really good big guy to defend us.”

Blue Devils deal with great expectations by Harrison Comfort THE CHRONICLE

Teams like Northern Iowa and Cornell have gained significant notoriety for advancing to the Sweet 16 in this season’s NCAA Tournament. After all, it is a feat that few teams achieve each year. For the Blue Devils, however, this impressive accomplishment has become noth-

ing more than an afterthought. “We want to have a chance to go to the Final Four and play for a national championship,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “If it was that easy, then everybody would do it all the time. When people start throwing up what you haven’t done, there are a lot of people who have never done anything, [like] going to the Sweet 16.” The Blue Devils have made it to 26 NCAA Tournaments in Krzyzewski’s 30 years as head coach, including earning trips to 10 Final Fours and winning three national championships. Duke has also made 15 consecutive tournament appearances, the second- longest active streak in the country, which includes a run of nine straight Sweet 16s from 1997-2006. Virtually every college basketball program in the country could not even fathom such accomplishments, with the exception of maybe UCLA and Kentucky. And since this kind of Tournament success is rare outside of Durham, living up to these enormous expectations is an obstacle that few other teams in the NCAA Tournament have to experience. It would be unheard of for a team to

MELISSA YEO/The Chronicle

See St. Mary’s on page 8

Junior Nolan Smith hopes the Blue Devils can live up to their lofty expectations this weekend in Houston.

See expectations on page 8

8 | THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 the chronicle

expectations from page 7

Melissa Yeo/The Chronicle

Senior Brian Zoubek would have to contend with big man Omar Samhan if Duke faces St. Mary’s in the Elite Eight.

St. mary’s from page 7 Also impressive about this team is how many players, who played second fiddle to guys like Simpson and Mills last year, have greatly increased their contributions to the team. Mills’ backup last year, Mickey McConnell, averaged around five points per game off the bench—this season he’s increased his output to 14 points per game. Seldom-used substitutes Clint Steindl and Ben Allen have gone from rare contributors last season to double-figure threats on any night. The case of Allen is particularly interesting. He once graced Cameron Indoor Stadium with his presence as an Indiana Hoosier during the 2006-2007 season. Thrust into a starting role due to injuries, he responded with a less than impressive two points, six rebounds and five fouls. As a redshirt junior last year at St. Mary’s, he showed little improvement, averaging

two points backing up Simpson at power forward. Taking over from Simpson this year—basically by default—he has been a revelation for the Gaels. “I had to have confidence in Ben, and last year I didn’t,” Bennett said. “When we got a fresh start, it was his job to lose, and he was good. And as he’s had success, he started helping more in leadership. He’s a good leader and he’ll lead the right way.” Standing in the No. 10 seed Gaels’ way this weekend is No. 3 seed Baylor. The Bears boast the type of athleticism that is rarely seen in the Gaels’ West Coast Conference. “Obviously they’re more athletic than we are,” McConnell said. “We’re just going to stick to our same game plan as we have been and just try to play within ourselves and play the same way we have been the whole year.” And if the Cinderella story continues after Friday, St. Mary’s could redeem themselves from last year’s letdown with one more upset over the Blue Devils.

receive criticism for not having reached a Final Four over a period of five years. But Duke, which last made a Final Four in 2004, is held to a completely different standard. With the long-term success the Blue Devils have had, so comes the expectations to make a deep run in the Tournament every year. “They are going to be on me all the time, but that’s okay,” Krzyzewski said. “I just want to make sure our players are not playing for that, and they get the recognition for what they are doing now and not compared to what Jason Williams did. That’s unfair. I just want to make sure that our guys get the best experience and play for all the right reasons right now and then whatever happens, if there’s something that doesn’t happen as well as we want, I’m okay with getting the criticism.” Since their last Final Four appearance, the Blue Devils have won four ACC tournament championships and posted a 17039 record. And due to the achievements of Krzyzewski’s previous teams, what would be considered a great accomplishment at any other program, like making the Sweet 16, is the norm with the Blue Devils. These are the same goals, though, that have made Duke one of the best collegiate programs ever. “Those expectations are the reason why all of us came to Duke,” junior Nolan Smith said. “We came here to live up to those expectations, so we feel like it’s our job to do that. We don’t feel any pressure from the expectations off the

court but it’s the reason we put on the Duke jersey every game to go out there and play hard.” While there is such a long history of success in Cameroon Indoor Stadium, it is easy for individual players and teams to be overlooked. The pressure to achieve greatness and become a part of history is the root of the winning tradition in Durham. In addition to the coach who built this tradition and the players he recruited, the winning mentality has enabled Duke to reach the pinnacle of its sport. Those expectations, however, can be as much a blessing as they are a curse, and this extends beyond having to play up to a higher standard than the other 15 teams left in the Tournament. “There is an amazing tradition here, an unbelievable amount of Final Fours especially,” senior Brian Zoubek said. “That is something we want to uphold, but that really isn’t our focus. This is our team. This is our year, especially for our seniors, and we want to do something that is just about us and we aren’t worried about what Duke has done in the past. We are having such a great time playing with each other and it’s been so enjoyable this year. We really do not want it to end and we will do whatever it takes to not let that happen.” This year’s team should be recognized for its ACC regular season and tournament championships in addition to its Sweet 16 appearance. Regardless if the Blue Devils manage to earn yet another trip to the Final Four and win a fourth national championship, this team hopes to make sure its legacy doesn’t get lost in the already crowded rafters.

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Chronicle file photo

Many Duke fans expect their team to have scenes like this—the celebration in 2001—every year.

W. Tennis from page 7 to put Duke up 3-1. The Wildcats fought back as Maria Mosolova beat Ellah Nze in No. 1 singles to pull within one, but senior Liz Plotkin earned the deciding victory for her team in the No. 3 singles match against Northwestern senior Lauren Liu. Plotkin started off poorly and dug herself a 3-0 hole, but after a change in strategy she put together an impressive comeback. “I definitely changed my mentality,” Plotkin said. “I came out with a particular game plan and kind of readjusted after losing the first few games and really just turned it around. I took it one point at a time and played at my pace rather than her pace.” Plotkin rallied back and won four straight games to make the score 4-3 be-

fore eventually taking the set 7-5. The 56thranked player in the country also went on to win the second set 6-4, but her initial surge in the first set not only sparked her own victory, but changed momentum for the whole team. Mary Clayton won the final singles point for Duke. “When Liz came back to 4-3 was the biggest thing to me,” Ashworth said. “I know she is going to compete and you look at the scores and we are doing well on a bunch of courts, but that match to me was a big one.” The momentum that this victory could create, though, is what makes the Blue Devils especially excited as they enter conference play. “Last year we beat them and that was basically what kind of set us on our track to winning ACC and NCAAs,” Plotkin said. “This is definitely a huge win for us and hopefully it can do for us now what it did in the previous year.”

the chronicle

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 | 9

Diversions Shoe Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins

Dilbert Scott Adams

Doonesbury Garry Trudeau

The Chronicle what we would do in the 50s: oh no, it’s godzilla!: ������������������������������������������������������� hon, charlie cook, clean and dust: ��������������������������������������������������noko, lindsey rock around the clock: ���������������������������������������������������������christina wear a sensible windbreaker: �������������������������������������������������austin hit up ebbetts field: ������������������������������������������� andy, archith, scott have an old fashioned: ��������������������������maya, larsa, addison, nate “read” playboy—no brazzers after all: ��������������klein, christina x 2 stay away from korea: �������������������������������������������������������������� reed Barb Starbuck remembers it like it was yesterday: ����������������� Barb

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The Independent Daily at Duke University

The Chronicle

10 | THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 the chronicle commentaries

Lefevre for DSG president Next year’s Duke Student translating his experiences Government president is in lobbying dining and for a tough job. transportation administrators. He must provide strong di- More glaringly, the memo rection for the Senate, exhibit he penned last year pegging sophisticated institutional Duke’s dining problems on its knowledge and union contracts work toward a was troubling, editorial clear vision— andhisresponse all the while adapting to un- to the controversy the memo foreseen challenges. Above sparked was immature. all else, he must stand strong Over the past year as DSG in his beliefs and stand up chief of staff, however, Lefefor students as the University vre has exhibited personal continues to weather the fall- and professional growth, and out of its budget crisis. his track record speaks to his With some reservations, passion for results. Two years we think that junior Mike ago as vice president for athLefevre is best positioned to letics and campus services, he fulfill this difficult and multi- brought ZipCars to campus. faceted role. This past year he helped reBy no means is Lefevre ject Duke Dining Services’ the perfect candidate. His plan for “directed choice” and platform exhibits too narrow instead negotiated for a wiser of a focus on campus services, increase to the dining fee. and he will have a lot to learn Lefevre’s relationships

“

onlinecomment

Argh! More graphs that do not start at the origin of the dependent axis! The downturn is bad, but the use of two improper graphs falsely portrays the actual loses and grant levels.

”

—“Michael Gustafson” commenting on the story “Duke Endowment feels downturn.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.

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with administrators, his desire to make a difference, his technical skills and his keen grasp of student needs make him most qualified to lead DSG and fight cuts mandated by the Allen Building. Junior Gregory Morrison is another compelling candidate, and his proposal for a long-term strategic plan for DSG is astute. He is correct to identify that the twelve-month timeline of DSG leaders does not lend itself to successfully negotiating with University administrators who are thinking far into the future. But we cannot be entirely confident that Morrison would make an effective president. Many of Morrison’s proposals are too focused on improving the efficiency of DSG as an organization, which are tasks more suited to the ex-

ecutive vice president—the position he currently holds. More importantly, while moderating debate on reform to the Young Trustee selection process, Morrison used his power as EVP to cut off discussion in order to further policies he preferred. This behavior was disturbing, and it makes us question whether as president Morrison would assert himself in a way that prevents dialogue and stifles ideas. In any other year, the third candidate, junior Will Passo, would have been a strong choice for president. He has a solid grasp on issues of race, gender and sexuality—campus culture issues that have been neglected by DSG leadership for far too long. And his ideas for reform of the student group budgeting process are spot on. Whoever becomes

president should thoroughly consider implementing them. In a year when administrators are bound to make cuts that directly affect students, however, it its unclear that Passo has the mettle and the know-how to represent students’ needs. Though he must make a concerted effort to include cultural, academic and student affairs issues more prominently in his agenda, Lefevre is prepared to effectively tackle whatever challenges come his way. The Chronicle’s independent Editorial Board formally endorses Mike Lefevre for DSG president. Chelsea Goldstein and Michelle Sohn recused themselves from this editorial due to personal ties to the candidates.

Our common quest We all seek it. It is a major reason that a significant number of Duke students, myself included, have chosen to join selective living groups. Without it, we become painfully aware that we miss it. Alumni warn that forging it in the real world often takes significantly more effort than it does at Duke. It can be an elusive concept that drives administrators craying-ying lu zy; indeed, many fleeting moments conversations on the state of campus culture focus on how to best create it. And when found, it can be a source of immense satisfaction, aid in the development of identity and the cultivation of confidence and act as a support system to help us begin to make little pieces of Duke our own. I am talking about a sense of community—specifically, community in the form of shared residential experiences. I decided to rush a selective living group as a sophomore. As a resident assistant living on East and apart from my class, I ached to have a community of my own, separate from the one that I had helped cultivate—a hall that I loved dearly, but within which I often felt lonely and could never quite shake my label of “the RA.” I am so happy that I did join, because doing so allowed me to cross paths with then-strangers, including upperclassmen, who are now close friends. Through my involvement, I have been exposed to events and opportunities at Duke that I would not otherwise have known about; made amazing and meaningful memories with people who matter to me; and learned much about myself and how I operate in a group setting. I am proud to be a member, feel invested in the group, and often cite my participation as one of the highlights of my time at Duke. At the same time, as a member who has never lived in section, I feel that I’m in an interesting position: attached to the group, but not centered within in, and thus able to observe some of its dynamics from the outside. I have experienced the pain of being left out, of feeling forgotten, and of missing out. I have sensed the exclusivity of the organization, seen clearly the impact that groupthink can sometimes have on its members, and witnessed the isolation that members themselves can experiences within its confines. Simply joining an SLG does not guarantee that you will reap the benefits of its residential community. Cultivating

community requires a certain amount of work. But despite these imperfections, I wonder: If I sometimes feel isolated on campus, both as a member of an SLG with the option of walking into a hall full of friends and acquaintances whenever I choose, and as an RA who knows every single one of my residents—and several of them very intimately—what does that say about the daily residential experiences of someone who has neither of these privileges? From what I’ve seen, it’s not all bad. Many sophomores reside in blocks, and upperclassmen who choose to remain on West often do so in part because of their heavy involvement in campus life. Indeed, the latter shows that community need not be residential. It can be rooted in almost anything that creates a sense of interdependence among its members: a student group, for example, or support for our basketball team. However, the benefits of experiencing community at a residential level are substantial. Studies have shown that a sense of belonging, especially within one’s place of residence, is critical to a college student’s growth and development. There’s a reason an important charge of RAs at Duke and elsewhere is to “build community” within their halls. But these communities can be hard to build, especially among independents. And in my experience, it is not because these residents are less social or don’t want to connect with others in their areas. Residents of Crowell Quadrangle, most of whom are independents, consistently express sentiments about their experiences in the dorm that demonstrate a disconnect between reality and students’ perceptions. In surveys, Crowell residents often express concerns that their neighbors are less than willing to get to know each other. However, an equal proportion write about wanting to get know their neighbors and desiring more frequent opportunities to do so. Interestingly, comparing survey data across quads indicates that no significant difference exists between Crowell and the rest of West Campus in the way students rate their sense of belonging. This implies that belonging to a group does not necessarily solve the problem of loneliness. The results also highlight the importance of personal initiative in creating communities. I’m not saying that changes aren’t needed at Duke on a macro level—they are. But we should remember that the act of making small changes in our own lives can be just as powerful. But the meantime, the power to make changes lies with each of us. Ying-Ying Lu is a Trinity senior. Her column runs every other Thursday.

the chronicle

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 | 11

commentaries

DSG Endorsements

The seven books that changed my life

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here is an incorrigible quality to with the possibility of my mother’s death my obsession with reading. I was and “The Sea” illustrates the comfort one that kid—the one who stayed up can find in the suddenness of love and late underneath the shelter of a ninja death. Best Line: “The past beats inside turtle bed spread, flashme like a second heart.” light in hand and book Story: “Haunting Olivia” secured safely in lap. by Karen Russell. Whereas in my youth I 4) “The Adventures read for pleasure, I now of Huckleberry Finn” by also read to be saved. Mark Twain: History is For a book has saved always on the side of the me on countless occajust, and Huck Finn is the thomas sions—lifted me up in single greatest fictional my deepest depressions, who proves that gebremedhin teenager a vehicle of transport fighting for what’s right is word-by-word from realities that were not always popular. Best oft too heavy. And once Line: “All right, then, I’ll that happens, you don’t stop looking go to hell.” Story: “Offloading for Mrs. for another chance at salvation. Schwartz” by George Saunders. The following are seven books that 5) “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrichanged my life. In addition to these son: The first novel I read where blacks are short stories of similar theme and were more than just caricatures or props. emotion that you can read in a sitting, The novel follows Milkman as he searches if you’re schedule does not permit the for identity in 20th century United States. reading of longer works just yet. Where can a black man find his worth—is 1) “The Collected Stories of Amy it his money, his sex or his mind? There is Hempel” by Amy Hempel: Stories filled a magical quality reminiscent of Gabriel with grief but told through laughter. Garcia Márquez while the language siHer characters suffer through natural multaneously recalls the tradition of black disasters, marriages and death but man- folklore. Best Line: “If you surrender to age to brush themselves off and pick up the air, you can ride it.” Story: “Sonny’s the pieces. An abundance of hope is in Blues” by James Baldwin. these stories—many of them no longer 6) “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy: than two to three pages. Hempel proves The first, and one of few books to bring that great writers can also be kind. Best me to tears. Tolstoy is famous for having Line: “I had my own bed. I slept in it said he began writing a story about an unalone, except for those times when we forgivable adulteress, but ended up fallneeded—not sex—but sex was how we ing in love with his character. We love who got there.” Story: “Nashville Gone to we love, and sometimes desire proves too Ashes” by Amy Hempel. strong. Best Line: “He stepped down, try2) “Blood Meridian” by Cormac Mc- ing not to look long at her, as if she were Carthy: This one is so cold it will leave the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even you shivering. The absolute brutality and without looking.” Story: “The Burning gore of McCarthy’s Western novel is too House” by Ann Beattie. much for most readers, but continue on 7) “In Patagonia” by Bruce Chatwin: and you’ll witness the experiences of an The only piece of non-fiction to make unnamed character after he joins a gang it on my list. “In Patagonia” is an acon the search for Native American scalps. count of Chatwin’s journey across the What does one do when confronted with southern tip of South America that will pure evil? Best Line: “When the lambs is remind you of just how big the world relost in the mountain, he said. They is cry. ally is. Prepare yourself for an extreme Sometime come the mother. Sometime case of wanderlust. Best line: “Never the wolf.” Story: “Heat” by Joyce Carol kick the woman you love.” Story: “To Oates. Build a Fire” by Jack London. 3) “The Sea” by John Banville: Possibly Honorable mentions: “One Hunthe most lyrical and beautifully written of dred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel all the books, Banville’s novel focuses on Garcia Márquez, “Veronica” by Mary the power of memory. An old Irish man Gaitskill, “The Jungle” by Upton Sinreturns to the town where he spent his clair, “Rose” by Andre Dubus and “Esboyhood summers, after the death of his says” by George Orwell. wife. This novel predictably struck a chord Read on my friends. with me as my mother was battling cancer at the time, and the narrator loses his wife Thomas Gebremedhin is a Trinity senior. to the same disease. I was coming to terms His column runs every other Thursday.

GDI endorses Passo and Schork The Group of Duke Independents proudly endorses Will Passo for DSG President. Passo distinguished himself with his commitment not only to advocate for the issues of unaffiliated students but also to lead by consensus. His platform displays a strong combination of passion to solve the problems facing the silent majority and the leadership to turn that passion into reality. Passo’s experience as vice president of Durham and regional affairs shows an ability to form meaningful relationships that make him a qualified community-builder. As DSG president, Passo would capably unify the campus and take all students’ interests into account. In terms of policy, Passo demonstrates by far the deepest understanding of issues facing unaffiliated students. He has correctly identified problems with Central Campus as a major issue, and boasts realistic plans to ameliorate these problems. Passo’s pragmatic approach to these and other issues shows he can follow through on his commitment to improve the student experience. Gregory Morrison also impressed us with his effective leadership style and institutional knowledge. The depth and nuance of his understanding would make him a fine representative for students and a solid advocate for independents. For the position of executive vice president, GDI endorses Pete Schork. Schork struck us as an effective and imaginative leader, and will represent the interests of all students well in leading the DSG Senate. Daniel Ardeljan Vice president for housing affairs, Group of Duke Independents Trinity ’11 Panhel endorses Morrison and Schork It is necessary that DSG addresses the needs of women on campus and is aware of their presence. Though women’s interests do not appear to be a priority issue on any candidate’s platform this year, we sincerely hope that whomever is elected takes into consideration the needs of 50 percent of the student body. The Duke Panhellenic Association is the largest student organization on campus representing women’s issues, both greek and independent. As such, we are pleased to endorse Gregory Morrison for DSG president and Pete Schork for DSG executive vice president. Morrison has worked to make DSG more efficient in addressing students’ concerns, and he seeks to develop a long-term vision for the Duke community as a whole. His plans to utilize the results of the Socioeconomic Diversity Initiative, re-instate the President’s Council on Women and address

the space problems facing Panhellenic women demonstrate that he has a sincere understanding of what our diverse campus community needs. Schork has demonstrated a passion for improving the quality of life for students on campus, working on issues ranging from dining to parking. He aspires to increase DSG Senate productivity and efficacy, expand student involvement in administrative decisions affecting campus life and reexamine the Women’s Initiative with greater scrutiny to take further action on its findings. The Panhellenic Executive Council is confident that these candidates will work to represent women and women’s issues on campus, and strive to improve campus life at Duke. Bogna Brzezinska President, Panhellenic Association Trinity ’11 IA endorses Passo and Moore Although the International Association respects and appreciates all of the presidential candidates’ work with DSG this year, we believe that Will Passo had the best understanding of international students and the issues that they face on campus. We believe that he had the most inclusive platform and will be a passionate and effective advocate for students. We strongly believe that Jane Moore is the best candidate for the position of executive vice president because of her energy and approachability. She has a strong awareness of the issues facing international students and a nuanced understanding of the relationship between the International Association and DSG. She also had an excellent understanding of the position and how it could work to the benefit of the student body. Alexis Rosenblum President, International Association Trinity ’10 Baldwin Scholars endorse Passo This year, all DSG candidates are considerably experienced and wellqualified for the position of president. We are confident that each is capable of working with administrators and lobbying on behalf of students. Nonetheless, the Baldwin Scholars endorse Will Passo for both his commitment to underrepresented groups on campus and his dedication to improving Duke-Durham relations. Will’s exceptional concern for student equity and access on campus will lead him to act as an extraordinarily responsive DSG President. We, the Baldwin Scholars, formally support Will Passo and his vision for a “New Duke.”

Online Today liz bloomhardt green devil

www.dukechronicle.com

Brittany Hesbrook President, Baldwin Scholars Trinity ’10

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